NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1921, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS. MARSEILLES, May 3 • Millions of locusts have invaded the department of the Benches do Rhone and 20 villages, including Arles, Miramis, and Istres, have been seriously damaged. All agricultural work has been brought to a standstill, and the mayors of the villages have sent an urgent, request to the Government asking for troops to he sent down immediately to help them in their efforts to destroy the pests. A large aviation ground near here was completely covered by one swarm, and all the camp staff, including the officers, had to' set to work to clear the ground of the mass of locusts.

HAJI ABDLRRA/iAQ’S WAIL PESHAWAR. May 3 Haji Abdurraznq, the notorious firebrand to whose influence the prolonga- i tion of the resistance of the Waxisistan j tribesmen is largely due, lias issued a ; formal declaration of war. in which he; styles himself “the head of the inde- , pendent country of AVaziristan,” and j claims to be supported by a Minister ; duly elected by the people. j He announces that he will adopt the j methods of Napoleon and ol the Boeis and carry on. guerilla warfare until the British Government is driven out ol AVaziristan. SHORT SKIRTS. NEW YORK. May 3. Chicago women dress so much like their daughters and granddaughters-' that tire police are baffled in carrying 'but a curlew order that no one "under sixteen shall he allowed in Hie streets after 10 p.m. unless aee.ftti.iratried by an. adult relative. A conversation overheard in a crowded department store between a mother add her little” three-years-ohl daughter illustrates The difficulties of the police. Owing-'to the crush the child was experiencing great difficulty in keeping h v her mother’s side, and the latter said angrily, “Why don’t you hold on to my skirl?” “Because T can’t reach it, mummy, tearfully answered her daughter. TEN WOMEN. NEW YORK. May 3. As a result of the private hearing on Thursday, a newspaper battle is being wged by the parlies to the Stillman divorce case—in which Mr James A. Stillman, the millionaire banker, is suing for a divorce from his wife, (who is a daughter rtf All's Brown Potter, the actress). Ou Thursday a Buffalo physician is reported to hn.ve testified that Mrs Stillman, when a patient of his, confided in him that an Indian guide, Beauvais who is cited as the co-respondent, was the father of her child. Guy.

Publicity,is now given to new charges brought- hv Airs Ctillman as part of her defence to the effect that her husband has been intimate with no fewer than ten women, for several of whom, it is alleged, he maintained expensive apartments. One is described as a beautiful dark-eved women, who. it is alleged. was a frequent visitor to Air Stillnrrun’s- yacht Modesty. Another was known as the “Six Thousand Dollar Girl”, and a third is stated to have been known in deini-modaiue circles as “Afa/bel.” The remainder are described as “Broadway dappers’ that is to say chorus girls and minor actresses.

It is also announced that Mrs Stillmans agents have discovered a series of intimate letters alleged to have been written by Mr .Stillman to one these young women. These Utters the defence propose to submit as an offset to the letters already produced by the petitioner purporting ho have Keen written by Fred Beauvais to Afrs Stillman in affectionate terms, one of which was admitted as evidence oil the misconduct issue.

The public is also given to endorsi: "d that Mrs Stillman’s defence will contain allegations that various witnesses who testified to having seen Beauvais in her morn in the hunting-box were “bought,” and that the alleged Beauvais letters were “planted” in her wilting desk. She will also offer evidence on the illegitimacy issue to the effect that she and Air- Stillman wore living together on terms of friendship many months lieforo the birth of the youngest child.